jonathan hunt has more. >> reporter: when nelson mandela walked free from prison on february 11th, 1990, he knew, as did the rest of the world, that white domination in south africa was about to end. mandela had fought apartheid since it's introduction in south africa in 1948 campaigning peacefully at first and then advocating and taking part in violent resistance. in 1964 mandela was sentenced to life with hard labor and sent to the robin island prison. it quickly gathered pace ♪ free nelson mandela ♪ 21 years in captivity >> reporter: and nelson mandela became the most famous political prisoner on the planet. within months of his release he was holding peace talks and then in 1994 with apartheid abollished nelson mandela became president himself after south africa's first all race elections. >> i have fought very firmly against white domination. i have fought very firmly against black domination. i cherish the idea of the new south africa where all south africans are equal. >> reporter: nelson mandela served just one five year term but remained perhaps the most influential figure